Free NBA Pick: Hornets vs. Pacers NBA Odds
Looking for Charlotte Hornets vs. Indiana Pacers free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Hornets taking on the Pacers on Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Hornets Pacers matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(33-39) Charlotte Hornets vs. Indiana Pacers (34-38)
Date: Tuesday, May 18th
Time: 6:30 PM EST
Venue: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indiana, Indianapolis
NBA Moneyline Odds: Hornets +140 | Pacers -150
NBA Betting Odds: Pacers -3
NBA Betting Total: 228
The 2021 NBA postseason tips off on Tuesday, May 18th with the Eastern Conference portion of the play-in tournament. The first game features the tenth seeded Charlotte Hornets playing the ninth-seeded Indiana Pacers.
The loser will be eliminated and the winner will move on to face the loser of the second play-in game featuring the Wizards at the Celtics.
Charlotte lost the final five games they played and were 5-10 in their last 15 matches with only one victory against a team not in the bottom five of the league (Celtics). In the same time frame, the Pacers were 8-7 with some quality wins (Hawks, 76ers).
The Hornets took two of the three matches this season.
Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte is a significantly better team with Gordon Hayward but the NBA injury report notes he will not play in this game. You have to believe if he was remotely close to a return he’d suit up.
While the Pacers have numerous players with postseason experience the Hornets are primarily a young squad led by rookie point guard LaMelo Ball. Then again if there was one rookie who probably won’t be phased at all by the moment it’s Ball.
In less than a full season, his joy for playing and moving the ball has essentially become the Hornets’ identity. That factor was evidenced in the three games versus Indiana where Charlotte averaged 30 assists per game and had at least six players score in double-figures.
Down the stretch, Charlotte struggled to beat any team who wasn’t already headed to the lottery but if there was a team who’ll rise to the occasion it sure feels like this Hornets squad is that team.
Gordon Hayward (right foot sprain), Cody Martin (left ankle sprain) are both out.
Indiana Pacers
Injuries took a toll on the Pacers this season and they’ll be tasked with overcoming that issue in this play-in match with Domantas Sabonis nursing a quad bruise and Malcolm Brogdon questionable to play with a hamstring injury.
Sabonis played well versus the Hornets scoring 22 points in two of the matches but getting only eight in the most recent meeting. He also collected a double-double in one meeting and a triple-double in a second.
While the Pacers didn’t have as many double-figure scorers in the three matches versus the Hornets, between four and six players reached that mark.
Domantas Sabonis (left quad bruise), Malcolm Brogdon (sore right hamstring), Edmond Sumner (left knee contusion), and Aaron Holiday (right toe sprain) are questionable although Sabonis played 39 minutes Sunday so it’s unlikely he misses this game.
Jeremy Lamb (left knee soreness), Myles Turner (toe- partial plantar plate tear), and TJ Warren (foot – stress fracture) are out.
NBA Betting Trends:
- The Pacers are 6-4 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The Pacers are 6-4 ATS in the last 10 head to head meetings
- Over/Under is 4-6 in the teams last 10 head to head meetings
- The Hornets are 4-8 ATS in their last 12 games.
- The Hornets are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games.
Free Charlotte Hornets vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Prediction:
Ball movement is the key for both clubs who are top four in that category. Indy will have their issues protecting the paint without Turner while the Hornets will need to be largely learning on the fly without Hayward available.
Although Indy has been more successful down the stretch, LaMelo Ball just strikes me as having that special ‘it factor” that could be the difference in a close game.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Hornets +3
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